MONTGOMERY — In the final hours of the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers pushed through a contested bill that dictates the governance structure of public colleges and allows for the removal of tenured professors.
House Bill 580 (HB580), sponsored by State Rep. Troy Stubbs (R-Wetumpka), would require a university that establishes a faculty senate to develop policies on the body's membership and responsibilities. A faculty senate would serve only an advisory role, thereby negating any "final decision-making authority on any matter of representing institutional positions." It would also require polices that would include periodic post-tenure reviews and authorize the removal of tenured professors after due process.
While most schools were publicly silent during the bill's negotiations, preferring to work with Stubbs behind the scenes on the details, the University of Alabama's chapter of the American Association of University Professors (UA-AAUP) took a vehement public stance against it.
Some Democratic lawmakers likewise accused the bill of opening the door to targeting faculty for political reasons and attacking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
The bill cleared the House floor last week after facing some backlash from House Democrats. It ended up in a Senate committee on Tuesday and hit the Senate floor on Thursday, the last day of the 2026 legislative session.
State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) carried the bill in the Senate, facing down an attempt at filibustering from Democrats in the upper chamber, namely that of Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singelton (D-Greensboro).
HB580 and other statutory impositions by lawmakers do not apply to schools like UA and Auburn, which are established under the Alabama Constitution and therefore require a Constitutional amendment to enact lawful changes.
The University of Alabama System is Alabama's largest higher education enterprise and largest public employer, comprising the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the UAB Health System. Auburn's systems include Auburn University in Montgomery (AUM).
Orr echoed Stubbs in noting that, since the legislature funds UA's system and Auburn, the law would "presumably" compel the schools to follow it, despite the lack of technical authority.
Singleton laughed at the implication that any lawmaker would be willing to slash funding for either of the state's "flagship universities."
He spoke at length against the bill, claiming it was further evidence of lawmakers' attempts to "eliminate DEI."
"This is really about censoring liberal faculties who want to be able to have the freedom to teach," Singleton said. "And that's what free speech is all about: the ability to explore these young minds that are coming in, that they are cultivating young minds on a daily basis, the ability to have that right to speak. Faculties shape these young men and women who are going to go out in the world and do great things and keep our world economy rolling."
After Singleton ranted for nearly 45 more minutes, the Senate voted to end further debate on the bill.
In the remaining 20 minutes of debate time, State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) also took umbrage with the bill, joining other Democrats in homing in on UA and Auburn's exemption.
"I don't understand why they get the preferential treatment," Figures said. "I know there's always the explanation that they are a Constitution. Well, if that's the case, maybe we should put something in there that, since they can pick their own boards of trustees and all of that. They do have to be confirmed here. However, it's different from what the other universities have to do. You know, maybe we should change some of those preferential treatments that they receive. I don't know."
After Figures concluded her remarks, the Senate voted to approve the bill 27-7, with the only "no" votes coming from Democratic lawmakers. It was submitted to Gov. Kay Ivey later in the day for her signature, making it officially law.
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